Evaluating the appropriateness of ChatGPT in providing dietary advice: An evidence-based approach
ChatGPT in providing dietary advice
Keywords:
Generative Artificial Intelligence, Communicable Diseases, Practice Guidelines, NutritionistsAbstract
Background: ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, is being increasingly used to obtain health and nutrition information. Limited research has evaluated the appropriateness and validity of dietary advice.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of the dietary advice provided by ChatGPT in alignment with international clinical guidelines for the management of seven specific non-communicable diseases, and its appropriateness in managing complex cases.
Methodology: Cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted in December 2025-January 2026. Seven NCD’s were selected: obesity, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), arterial hypertension, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). For each disease, prompts were given to ChatGPT version 5.0 in independent sessions. Responses were then compared with international practice guidelines. Two experienced dietitians independently assessed each response using a structured evaluation framework. Any discrepancies between the dietitians were reviewed and finalised by a third reviewer, who made the final decision. In addition, a complex case scenario involving T2DM, obesity, and CKD was used to evaluate ChatGPT’s ability to integrate recommendations from different clinical nutrition guidelines. Frequencies and percentages were calculated using SPSS v. 26.
Results: ChatGPT generally provided appropriate advice for individual diseases, dyslipidemia (88.8%), arterial hypertension (83.3%), obesity (93.8%), T2DM (94.1%), NAFLD (95.8%), and sarcopenia (94.4%). However, for CKD, 70% responses were appropriate, and six key recommendations were missing. ChatGPT demonstrated strong clinical reasoning when managing complex scenarios. AI maintained safe boundaries by explicitly stating it is not a medical professional and strongly advising users to seek highly individualized care from a registered renal dietitian.
Conclusion: ChatGPT provided largely appropriate and safe dietary advice, with good performance in both single-disease and complex clinical scenarios, though greater caution is needed in conditions requiring highly specific restrictions such as CKD.
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